Nitro, an English setter, waits in the grooming area for his owner Ben Blasel of Medford before being shown at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

Cavalier King Charles spaniels wait to be groomed before being shown at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

Cavalier King Charles spaniels wait to be groomed before being shown at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

Sharon Bruckshen of Kiel uses a treat to play with Sklyar the toy fox terrier before showing at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

Sharon Bruckshen of Kiel uses a treat to play with Sklyar the toy fox terrier before showing at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club Dog Show took place in the Hockey Building at Marshfield Fairgrounds Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. (Photo: Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media Megan McCormick/News-Herald Media)

Hair dryers, combs and nail trimmers transformed one of the barns at the Marshfield Fairgrounds into a beauty salon Saturday, but the clients weren't human — they were dogs being primped to compete in the annual Marshfield Area Kennel Club dog show.

Some dogs, like Bear, a 2-year-old Samoyed, required little maintenance.

"We pulled up and trimmed the matted fur between his foot pads," said his owner, Heidi Brown of Rochester, Minn. She and her daughter Katie washed and dried Bear and were preparing his nails about an hour before his show.

Other dogs, including most poodles, underwent a full morning of grooming and hairstyling before the afternoon show.

"The top knot is really important for poodles," show chairman Dale Meyer said.

But a good grooming doesn't necessarily prepare a dog to become a show champion. Professional judges evaluate dogs' head size and shape, bite, body size, bone structure and movement by standards set for each breed, Meyer said.

Owners — and in many cases professional handlers — traveled from across the country with some of the best dogs in their breed vying for the coveted Best in Show trophy. Nearly 500 dogs competed first against members of the same breed. The winning dog in each breed was judged against other dogs in its group — sporting, non-sporting, working, herding, hound, terrier and toy dogs — and the winner in each group had the chance to be named Best in Show.

"Best in Show is the dog that is the closest representation of the standards for that breed," Meyer said.

Even more preparation was required for dogs entered in the obedience and rally trials. Obedience trials test a dog's ability to follow signals, jump, retrieve, discriminate among scents and heel. Dogs competing in rally trials make their way through a course and complete tasks their owners read from a sign.

"We practice every day for a half hour in the morning, then we do some heeling in the afternoon," said Christine Gilbreath of Weston, whose golden retriever participated in obedience trials.

Monika Luebke of Neillsville said rally trials are a good entry-level option for individuals who would like to prepare their dogs for obedience trials. Luebke teaches rally classes at the Marshfield Area Kennel Club.

"Our club has a lot to offer people," she said.

Marisa Cuellar can be reached at 715-384-3131. Find her on Twitter as @cuellm34.